Who Pays After a Crash With an Uninsured Driver?

April 28, 2021

By Samantha Alvord

According to the legal system, an accident victim should be restored to their original financial condition after they have suffered losses due to a car accident. In theory, if a person is injured or experiencing property damages or loss due to a vehicle collision, the at-fault driver’s insurance should cover the cost of medical bills, damages, and lost wages.

When the At-Fault Party is Uninsured

The financial recovery process becomes more complicated if the liable party in the accident was not insured. In some cases, the responsible party may have insurance, but not a basic liability plan that may not provide enough coverage for the losses the victim experienced.

Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage are add-ons to a policy that anyone can select when they purchase automobile insurance. These add-ons make it possible for insurance to pay a claim to an accident victim after an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or is underinsured.

Insurance Add-Ons

Without the add-ons, accident victims can’t make claims to recover damages or cover the cost of medical bills after an accident. This is why it is important for collision victims to file a report with their insurance companies as soon as possible. A report and a claim are not the same; it’s best to gather all relevant evidence, such as a police report and pictures of the accident scene. Accident victims should provide this information to their insurance company or law consult like Bryant Law Center, even if the at-fault driver immediately reveals that they are not insured.

If the at-fault driver does not have insurance, the victim’s insurance company can’t file a claim against the liable party. In these cases, the insurer of the victim will usually decide to subrogate the claim, which means the insurance company will sue the responsible driver or make a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company if the driver was uninsured.

If neither party involved in the car accident has insurance, the victim will have to file a personal injury claim against the driver who was responsible for the accident.

Filing An Uninsured Motorist Claim

Get in touch with your insurance company immediately if you’re a car accident victim and want to file a claim against a driver who doesn’t have insurance. Some insurers have strict deadlines when it comes to reporting an accident and filing a claim, which means the company may not cover you if you don’t notify them of the accident within a certain timeframe.

If your insurer is representing you against the at-fault driver’s insurance company, the two insurers will negotiate to come to a settlement. If you believe you deserve more, you can appeal the decision. If you’re still not satisfied with the outcome, you can work with a personal injury attorney so you can file a lawsuit.

If you file an uninsured motorist claim against your own insurance company and you can’t come to an agreement, you’ll go to binding arbitration. Arbitration is not as formal as litigation, but since the arbitration is binding, you’ll have to see the process through until the end. In this situation, both parties will appear in court for a hearing before a panel or single arbitrator who will act as a judge. You and the at-fault party will present your arguments and the arbitrator will come to a decision.

Bottom Line

If you’re dealing with an at-fault party with no car insurance and want to recover lost wages, the cost of medical bills, or damages associated with your car accident, be sure to consult with a qualified lawyer right away. A personal injury attorney can review the details of your case, verify all insurance policies, and help you file a claim so you can get the compensation you deserve.

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About the Author

Samantha Alvord is a legal expert and a passionate writer who works tirelessly to inform people about the field of personal injury, her area of specialty. She has a talent for making complex legal concepts accessible to the public. It is Samantha’s goal to present a clear and structured piece to the reader, which can easily be used as a guide to solving legal matters.

Accelerating Accounting Automation into the Future

April 28, 2021

Was it really only a year ago that we all had to go remote, practically overnight? As tragic as the COVID-19 pandemic has been — and continues to be — for many of our friends and families, a possible silver lining is that the sudden shift to remote work accelerated the pace of accounting automation. Automation is no longer just something nice to have, but has become essential to strategy. Let’s take a look at how the pandemic moved accounting automation into the future.

Still doing accounting by hand

Despite news stories with provocative titles about robots coming for Phil in accounting, prior to the pandemic, most companies were still relying heavily on manual processes. That’s according to a global survey of finance professionals performed by Deloitte and the IMA between November 6, 2019 and January 6, 2020. At that time, 75.7% of respondents said accounting was still largely or at least partially manual. Only 1.4% said their accounting was fully digital.

In those pre-pandemic days, a bigger priority for respondents was developing their IT infrastructure and implementing cloud-based budgeting, forecasting, and reporting tools. That makes sense: without a stable and accurate data infrastructure, implementing robotic process automation (RPA) and AI to automate accounting is frustrating at best, and presents too much of a barrier for many.

The pandemic forced us to change fast

Then the pandemic hit, and everything changed. We moved years ahead into the future in just a few weeks. A new study by McKinsey claims that we are now past the technology tipping point. Worldwide lockdowns and the sudden shift to remote and touchless operations forced digitization in internal operations, supply chains, and customer interactions faster than anyone thought possible, as the graphic below shows. Before the crisis, the executives surveyed thought it would take on average more than a year, or 454 days, to implement remote work. Instead, they got it done in just 10.5 days, a factor of 43X.

Going remote required investments in data security and migration to the cloud, which were both seen as bottlenecks prior to the pandemic, but, as the McKinsey report says, “the survey data suggest that the COVID-19 crisis is a tipping point of historic proportions—and that more changes will be required as the economic and human situation evolves.” Those investments mean that remote work is likely here to stay.

The pandemic didn’t just send everyone home to work, which was a major change on its own. Everyone went into panic mode from the sudden and drastic changes to the economy. Cities, states, and whole countries went into lockdown. Entire industries shut down. Business leaders needed better information, and they couldn’t wait until the month-end close to figure out what to do.

As Tom Kelly, Senior Director of Product Management at Netsuite said in an article on FEI Daily, “The pandemic has made access to real-time information non-negotiable.” Access to real-time, reliable, error-free data is essential not only for the decision-makers in the C-suite, but to enable accounting teams to collaborate when they’re not in the same building.

Automating at scale means reimagining accounting and business

But to achieve anything like real-time information, automation on a much larger scale needs to happen. By mid-2020, when Deloitte repeated its fifth annual survey on automation, many companies were beginning to make that move. In the previous survey, 58% of corporate executives were just beginning the process of automating processes, but by mid-2020, that figure jumped to 73%. Companies were no longer seeing automation as something to simply replace headcount, but as something that adds to the bottom line by enabling companies to perform tasks such as automated debt collection that were not economically feasible previously.

Automation doesn’t just remove error-prone, manual tasks from the accounting workflow. It has the potential to entirely transform businesses as we move into the future. According to the authors of the Deloitte survey, companies with 50 or more automations “are more likely to reimagine what they do, not just redesign tasks or re‐engineer processes. They are re‐envisioning how work can be done, which allows them to expand their ambition, and evolve from taking small steps to achieving radical change.” Automation won’t just change the tasks we accountants do — it will also change how our businesses operate and, possibly, what they sell.

Instead of a piecemeal approach of automating a step or two here and there, automating at scale requires breaking down the silos between the parts of an organization. This means accountants working on automation initiatives will be parts of teams from different parts of an organization, not just accounting. These people may have radically different ideas on how to get the work done. This may also require restructuring your accounting team to get the maximum benefit from RPA.

It won’t be enough to retrain your team to use the new tech, though that will also have to happen. The tasks taken over by RPA may be spread across multiple team members, so you may need to completely redesign how accounting gets done. In addition, you’ll need people whose role is specifically to manage those bots. Those bots won’t build themselves, so you’ll need to hire or retrain team members who will be responsible for configuring bots, integrating them into the workflow, and overseeing their output.

Accountants and robots working together

The pandemic rocketed automation across all business sectors into the future, moving us several years ahead in just a short time. Companies that already had automation in place and that had already moved to a cloud-based ERP fared better than those who did not. The pandemic also elevated the role of accounting and finance within organizations to play a strategic role.

While robots won’t take your job, your job as an accountant will change. Automating accounting means a future of tech supporting and empowering humans so we can both do what we do best. Bots are great for repetitive, rote tasks, but they’re not so great at strategy and creative thinking. And that’s where we can shine. Finally, automation means we will get to do the coolest job in the company.

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Here’s How You Can Prepare Your Company for IFRS 17 Compliance

April 28, 2021

In May 2017, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued the International Financial Reporting Standard 17 (IFRS 17). It’s set to replace IFRS 4 in accounting for insurance contracts on January 1, 2023, and applies to the following:

insurance and reinsurance contracts issued by the insurer
reinsurance contracts that the above holds
investment contracts with discretionary participation features (DPF) issued by an insurer that also issues insurance contracts

IFRS 17 is practically a complete overhaul of insurance accounting requirements. Moreover, the changes will encompass finance and actuarial functions. An insurance company’s risk and IT departments will also need to be closely involved. Of course, both internal and external stakeholders need to be kept apprised of the impacts of IFRS 17 implementation.

In short, IFRS 17 compliance will take a lot of work. To help you prepare, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Don’t Delay

Originally, IFRS 17 was slated to be implemented last January 2021. However, in November 2018, the IASB decided to push the effective date to January 1, 2022 and then further deferred the date to January 1, 2023, considering the global repercussions of COVID-19.

However, these extensions don’t mean that your company should delay its action. Again, IFRS 17 will need a lot of work and will involve functions beyond accounting. The earlier you get started in making changes, the easier it is for you to be fully compliant in time.

Find the Right Software Solution

Needless to say, IFRS 17 will have a lasting impact on hundreds of insurance companies in more than 144 countries. Not only does it represent a major deviation from IFRS 4’s accounting standards, it also affects data, processes, and systems within these organizations. Needless to say, the transition will not be an easy one even for the most established companies.

Luckily, there are IFRS 17 solutions that can help simplify the process. In particular, software solutions can help establish a framework for data intake from various sources and then set up rules for data disaggregation. IFRS 17 software solutions can also help perform calculations, prepare reports, and even conduct subledger reporting, among many other functions.

Work Step by Step, Phase by Phase

When you look at the bigger picture, IFRS 17 compliance can certainly feel overwhelming or even impossible. Breaking things down step by step can help make things more manageable. Perception can affect reality, after all, and it would be in your firm’s best interests to make transitioning to IFRS 17 compliance appear as easy and straightforward as possible.

The first thing you have to do is to determine your goals beyond compliance. It would be helpful if you can have separate goals for each department, all leading to the central goal of abiding by all of IFRS 17’s standards. Then, break down each goal to different milestones. From there, you can work backwards so you can allocate enough time and resources for everything to be accomplished without feeling rushed.

Gather All Requirements, Especially Data

As previously mentioned, IFRS 17 will affect not just accounting but also other facets of insurance contracts. These include actuarial and finance functions, among others, which will then affect back-office data and other systems within the company. IFRS 17 will also require more detailed reporting.

What this means is that you’ll be dealing with larger volumes of data. As such, it will be advantageous if you focus on this aspect in the early stages. Just think of it as “getting things out of the way,” since data collection, transformation, and manipulation are sure to be the most tedious, time-consuming parts of the transition. Once you manage to complete this phase, the rest of the steps will feel considerably easier.

Create an Implementation Team

Establishing a task force, so to speak, for implementing IFRS 17 will make it easier for your entire organization to adapt. It’s also far less complicated to disseminate information if you have an organizational structure that’s designed for this specific purpose. Ideally, there should be a point person per function or department and these point persons will be responsible for ensuring that the implementation plan gets carried out. The implementation team should also be empowered to make crucial decisions.

In addition, it’s a good idea to keep the team intact even after the successful implementation of the transition. This way, you can ensure that all the details of the design plan are followed and that the goals are consistently being met. Remember, again, that IFRS 17 is a big change so it will take some time for things to stabilize. Having the implementation team ready to handle issues will make things smoother.

Ultimately, the transition to IFRS 17 will benefit everyone involved. In particular, it can provide a more realistic reflection of profits, which investors and stakeholders will definitely appreciate. It also facilitates better governance of actuarial systems, and offers better protection for policyholders.

IFRS 17 also ensures global consistency, providing a gold standard for all insurance contracts. This is especially advantageous for multinational insurers, reducing long-term costs of aggregating and comparing financial statements.

If you haven’t started preparing your company for IFRS 17 compliance yet, then take this as your sign to kickstart the process.

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Use Technology to Connect with Investors and Raise Capital

April 28, 2021

In an increasingly connected world, you must leverage technology to connect with potential investors and raise the capital you need. Here are some types of technology that can help you achieve your fundraising goals:

1. Investor Relations Platform

With professional help from an end-to-end investor relations (IR) solutions team, you can build your own investor relations platform for your business. A good IR platform can help you streamline processes, improve communications, and attract and maintain investor relationships. An investor relations firm will be able to help nail down exactly how you should improve communications.

Additionally, a renowned full-service investor relations tools and solutions partner can drive traffic to specific pages on your platform to cultivate relationships with visitors and convert them into investors.

Of course, your IR platform must take a nuanced approach backed by data to deliver your value proposition. Remember, a heavy-handed approach is usually counterproductive.

2. Virtual Events

With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting business, more organizations are using virtual events to deliver corporate messages, share timely and accurate information with investment communities, influence investors, and redefine their products and services. Here are some tips to help you organize a successful virtual event for your investors:

Highlight your brand
Understand your audience
Set the correct length for your event
Offer one-on-one meetings on your enterprise solution
Focus on developing relationships
Keep it simple
Hire experienced, dedicated event managers
Enable impactful discussions
Be prepared with data to answer any questions or concerns

Please also remember to partner with an experienced IR company to access a reliable and certified virtual investor conference platform to offer your audience a secure experience. Also, take advantage of analytics and feedback from your IR experts to enhance future events and improve investor confidence.

3. Fundraising Websites

Crowdfunding has evolved since the days of Kickstarter. Thousands of companies have found funding through platforms like AngelList, Wefunder, Circle Up, etc. For example, both Dollar Shave Club and Cruise raised capital through AngelList and became success stories. Eventually, Dollar Shave Club sold to Unilever, while Cruise sold to General Motors.

With the right story and product, your company may generate significant investment through such platforms from accredited investors, funds, and syndicates.

4. Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and more, are a cost-effective way to generate enthusiasm for your product and gain the attention of investors. For example, you can run targeted ads on Facebook and Instagram to draw investors.

To run a successful digital marketing campaign on social media, you must develop a strong brand, tell a powerful story, and use data analytics tools to develop new strategies and strengthen your market reach.

5. Writing

Don’t underestimate the power of the written word. With a compelling narrative, you can reach a wider audience. Start by writing your story on microblogging platforms like Twitter. Follow it up with blogs on platforms such as Medium and LinkedIn. And cross-post your content on your website. Ensure that your message is synchronized by connecting with potential investors across platforms.

Connecting with leads and converting them into investors isn’t easy. But with the right technology, you can find an economical and effective way to reach your capital-raising goals.

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The Most Reputable Casino Software Providers and Why They Matter

April 28, 2021

Playing online casino games is always fun and now easily accessible. There are just so many online gambling sites out there that it will be hard to quickly get bored from gambling. A popular online casino site would carry hundreds of games that you probably wouldn’t mind playing the whole day.

The options that you have when it comes to the games that you can play as an online gambler are all thanks to casino software providers. This is probably something that many don’t really think about. Some probably even still think that online casino operators are the ones that develop the games that they offer, but not really. Casino software providers are the ones we should be thankful for when it comes to that.

While there are thousands of online casinos out there, there are only a few popular and reputable casino software providers out there. Since this is the case, you may see the top online casinos partner up with multiple software providers to give their customers the best options out there.

Why You Should Also Keep Software Providers in Mind

There are already a few things to consider when shopping for an online casino and usually, people don’t really consider the software providers that are present on the website. If you want to make sure that your online gambling experience will be great, then you better start noticing which providers the operators are partnered with.

High-quality and diverse gambling content should always be considered. Part of this is the quality of games you will be playing in terms of graphics, audio, and even your chances of winning. Your method of playing and even your location should also help determine whether you’re fit to play games produced by certain software providers.

Always keep in mind that like casino operators, software providers should also be licensed. Device compatibility should also be considered. You can research which providers produce games that are mobile-friendly if you will be playing more on your smartphone or tablet.

If you’re not so keen on technology but would still like to enjoy a great online casino game, you should also take a look at how user-friendly the interface is of the games that they produce. These software providers also have their own customer service or support and you should take a look at how easy it will be to reach them if you have any questions about their games and services.

About the Most Popular and Reputable Casino Software Providers

There are already plenty of casino software providers out there but only a few are most likely familiar to many online gamblers. This could be because their games are found on the biggest online casino sites or that they have games with the highest jackpots. Here are some of them.

Microgaming

This private company is known as the first in the world to develop software for online gambling websites that can be traced back to the year 1994. Since then, Microgaming has been one of the biggest providers out there even for land-based casinos.

Microgaming is based in the Isle of Man and has different selections of hit casino games like slots, bingo, and lotteries. They also have live casino games and poker rooms. Its games support over 45 languages and are regularly audited by eCOGRA.

Evolution Gaming

Also one of the leading casino software providers out there, Evolution Gaming is known for its variety of game selections. It offers live casino games, poker, and slots. It has been around since 2006 and it is extremely huge in European countries.

NetEnt

NetEnt is known for its slot machine games. It is also a stock-listed company on the NASDAQ Stockholm. It’s also one of the first online software developers out there as it has been around since 1996. Headquartered in Sweden, it is known for games like StarCasino and Divine Fortune Casino. NetEnt online casino games are what you should be looking for if you’re heavy on game graphics.

Playtech

This company has been around since 1999 and is known for its online casino games, bingo games, sports betting, scratch cards, and poker rooms. It is based in the Isle of Man and some of its popular games are Casino Hold’em, Blackjack Switch, Huuuge Casino Slots, and Caesars Slots. It’s worth checking out if you’re mainly into slot machine games.

International Gaming Technology (IGT)

IGT has been in the gambling industry since 1975. It’s played a big role in computerized gambling and has been a huge contributor to the whole gambling industry. While IGT is mainly popular for the games they produced for land casinos, the company has been evolving and is also giving more attention to its online casino portfolio. Some of its popular online casino games are Pharaoh’s Fortune, Mega Jackpots Star Lanterns, and Crown of Egypt.

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How Texas Students Recover from COVID Learning Loss

April 27, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has been overwhelming for both parents and students. Many things have changed, especially when we look at academics. Education and student learning have suffered many drawbacks because of the pandemic, with many students unable to convert to the new system.

According to academic research in social studies, motivation has also been reduced, and improper choice making seems to affect students. When in-person teachers cannot supervise students anymore, many inconvenient things can happen. And when students get too “digital,” face to face interaction is quickly lost. This can affect both the mental and physical health of students across the globe, which can be truly terrifying.

How is the coronavirus pandemic shaping education trends?

Since the pandemic changed the way in which we look at education, we must underline that new education trends have emerged. By using so many new tech gadgets, students can now do things they were not able to do before. This is indeed a great step forward in education and should be regarded as one. To stay informed, we gathered a concise summary about how new education trends are emerging during the pandemic.

Education changes quickly. That means, students are not waiting so long to get real-time access to virtual classrooms. They are now there. They can easily do homework from the comfort of their homes, which saves everyone time and money. Google Classroom is the perfect example of how this works.

More partnerships between private and public parties. Everyone had to make it work during this pandemic, so gathering stakeholders from all parts of the business world was really important. For example, many important government announcements have been made through digitalized platforms. This shows us that partnerships between the public and private sectors are still possible. Maybe this way the cost of education in the U.S. will slowly drop, allowing more students worldwide to study in America.

However, equality might become a huge problem. The United States government has been fighting inequality for a long time now. Allowing students from one part of the country to follow an online schedule, while making the other half attend school is not fair. This could enlarge specific issues within the country and separate groups even more. This digital divide could be crucial to the American educational system, which brings me to the next point.

What happened in Texas education-wise?

Students from Texas have been unable to attend class or switch to online. That’s because, as I mentioned earlier, not all students have access to digital learning. Some of them might not even earn a computer, while others simply prefer not to. This can be fatal to Texas’s next generation of students.

According to statistics at the Texas Education Agency, most students were not able to accommodate with the new method of distance learning. Because of that, they suffer from learning loss. They are simply not updated on what needs to be done next. They don’t know what follows, and authorities have no idea how much time they’ll need to catch up.

“If students continue to get their education online, they might not even be able to pass their SATs,” argue professional writers at Edubirdie. For students who struggle with their workload and have access to Internet, there’s always a way out. For example, just choose one of the assignment writing services and get their assignments written in just a few days, if not hours. They’ll get the writing help they need. But students that do not have real-time access to Internet, this will be close to impossible. They will be left behind even more. So, what is there to do?

How will the Texas Education Agency deal with the Texas learning loss?

The Texas Education Agency is looking at ways to deal with this learning loss during the pandemic. They are also checking with the government to understand better how equality could be sustained. Some of the most important things they do are the following.

They are checking new ways of getting better instructional materials for students in need. They need to check what went wrong during the pandemic and press where it hurts. They are looking at innovative ways to do that.
The authorities are better supporting educators and teachers in need. If teachers need more help with teaching their class, the authorities want to offer them the necessary support. The more, the merrier.
If students need to study more during the summer, the agency will come up with a proper plan. They might be offering free tutoring sessions during the summer, but nothing is sure as of now.

Wrapping Up

Education all around the world is interfered with because of the pandemic. However, authorities are trying to make this work. In the meantime, have patience and ensure that your kid stays on the right track in school.

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About the Author

Michael Turner is a freelancer and an essay maker. He was the captain of his school’s basketball team and a leader in marketing. Michael likes to dance and play piano in his free time.

Why Should You Give A Try To CBG Oil?

April 27, 2021

Cannabis has been used from time immemorial in treating various ailments. In ancient times, the plant was mainly used for relieving headaches and managing wounds. Some people also used it as an aphrodisiac. Today, various scientific findings have established that marijuana might help treat many more medical conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, inflammatory diseases, to mention but a few.

Now, the cannabis plant produces hundreds of pharmacologically useful extracts. These compounds are known as cannabinoids, and cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most popular ones. CBD is the most widely-studied non-psychoactive compound of cannabis. On the other hand, THC is the most popular psychoactive extract from the plant.

But while cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol are the most common therapeutic extracts obtained from cannabis, they’re not the only substances produced by the plant. Cannabis has several other compounds, including cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabigerol (CBG), etc.

This post shall examine the effects of CBG oil and why you should give the substance a try.

More About CBG Oil

If you’re new to cannabis, it’s not unusual to find yourself wondering, what is CBG oil? Well, CBG oil is simply the oil extracted from cannabigerol.

CBG oil is obtained from cannabigerol the same way other cannabis-based oils are extracted. Although there may be variations in the exact procedures followed, the process typically begins with cannabigerol’s decarboxylation.

Decarboxylation is the process of activating raw cannabis material into its enhanced forms. The process is also called decarbing. It’s important to note that many cannabinoids contain a carboxyl (–COOH) group. Decarbing simply removes the carboxyl molecule, a process that renders the compound more potent and produces carbon dioxide gas as a by-product. Cannabigerol occurs naturally as cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) with a molecular formula of C₂₂H₃₂O_4.After decarboxylation, CBGA converts to CBG, with a molecular formula of C₂₁H₃₂O₂.

The decarboxylation of cannabinoids usually happens naturally throughout the life cycle of a cannabis plant. However, the process can also be induced by heating, as is the case when extracting CBG oil.

After decarboxylation, raw cannabis products undergo winterization. The process involves dissolving the plant material in ethanol and then placing the mixture in a freezer. This makes it easy to separate CBG oil from other cannabis oils based on its melting and precipitation points.

Potential Health Benefits of CBG Oil

Treating Pain

Nearly all cannabinoids contain powerful analgesic properties that make them effective against pain. CBG is no exception.

According to a 2018 study, cannabigerol interacts with CB2 receptors. These are the same endocannabinoid receptors that cannabidiol also interacts with.

When consumed, CBG oil can treat pain by activating specific pain-regulating receptors in your endocannabinoid system.

2. Relieving Anxiety

Marijuana’s anxiolytic properties are well-documented. The only difference lies in how the various cannabis extracts exert their anti-anxiety effects.

While CBD increases the body’s signaling of the neurotransmitter serotonin, CBG inhibits gamma-aminobutyric acid reuptake (GABA). GABA is a neurotransmitter that blocks the brain’s ability to process specific signals.

By reducing GABA reuptake, cannabigerol oil can treat anxiety and elevate your mood. The effects of GABA reuptake inhibition have also been shown to produce muscle relaxation, which means that CBG oil might also help post-workout muscle recovery.

3. Alleviating Inflammation

CBG oil also contains anti-inflammatory properties that may come in handy for people battling chronic inflammatory diseases. Cannabigerol generally alleviates inflammation by diminishing some of the body’s inflammatory markers.

A 2013 research conducted on rat specimens established that CBG could reduce inflammation induced by inflammatory bowel disease (IBS). Researchers also noted a significant reduction in other IBS symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea.

CBG’s anti-inflammatory properties might also benefit people with cancer. A 2014 study demonstrated that cannabigerol oil could slow down cancer cells’ proliferation in rats with colon cancer.

4. Treating Nausea

Tetrahydrocannabinol accounts for most of marijuana’s antiemetic properties.

However, numerous findings now show that CBG might also be effective in relieving nausea symptoms. That makes the oil especially suitable for people with cancer and HIV/AIDS.

Well, medical researchers are yet to identify the exact way in which cannabigerol oil relieves nausea. However, CBG’s antiemetic properties might have a lot to do with the compound’s positive interactions with the endocannabinoid system.

5. Relieving Skin Conditions

We’ve already pointed out cannabigerol’s potential for alleviating inflammatory diseases. Therefore, CBG oil might help to treat various inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne.

The oil relieves acne by inhibiting the effects of overactive sebaceous glands. You probably already know that sebaceous glands secrete sebum – the oil that nourishes and moisturizes the skin. But excess sebum production might also cause blockages in skin pores, leading to acne breakouts.

Besides acne, studies have shown that consuming CBG oil might also relieve or reduce the risks of skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. What makes CBG oil a perfect remedy against skin issues is that it is generally milder, even for sensitive skin people.

6. Managing Glaucoma

Glaucoma is another medical condition that CBG oil might treat.

According to a study published in 2008, cannabigerol might reduce intraocular pressure induced by glaucoma.

While easing this pressure alone may not heal glaucoma, it can help make the condition more manageable.

7. Boosting Bladder Functions

Various cannabinoids have shown potential for enhancing bladder functions by regulating bladder contractions.

In a 2015 study, researchers examined the efficacy of five cannabinoids in treating bladder dysfunctions.

At the end of the study, cannabigerol showed the most promise at treating bladder issues.

8. Prevention of Disease

Not only can cannabigerol oil treat various medical conditions. The oil might also prevent those diseases from developing in the first place.

Cannabigerol oil contains antifungal, antibacterial, and even antiviral properties. According to a 2008 study, CBG oil might kill certain disease-causing bacteria. That includes methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that causes drug-resistant staph infections.

CBG oil also contains neuroprotective properties. That makes it an effective remedy against neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington’s disease.

The Bottom Line

Although cannabigerol isn’t as famous as CBD and THC, the substance is just as important as its more famous cousins.

CBG can treat various diseases, ranging from pain and anxiety to inflammatory, neurological, and even bladder conditions. The compound also contains powerful antioxidant properties that may help to keep certain diseases at bay.

And for your peace of mind, it will interest you to know that cannabigerol is non-psychoactive.

But as with all marijuana extracts, the conventional wisdom is to use CBG oil in moderation. Begin with the lowest servings and observe how your body responds to the compound before increasing the doses.

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Student research: How does abortion affect women’s mental health?

April 27, 2021

Abortion is a widely discussed topic, but its impact on the mental health of women often gets overlooked. This aspect of the procedure deserves much closer attention.

Abortion is quite a controversial topic that’s been widely debated around the world by scholars, social activists, doctors, and religious leaders. It is a multi-layered discussion, and there are different points of view on abortion, but one of its aspects that seems to be sidelined in most discussions is the impact of abortion on the psyche of women who go through this procedure. We need to pay attention to this issue and talk more about the way it influences women.

Abortion and Its Aftermaths

Of course, women must be free to make that choice, but it is also paramount to understand the possible implications of that choice. For instance, if we talk about a young student getting pregnant, the whole thing might ruin the whole high school, college, or university education, so abortion might be an option here. Of course, it is also possible to study and raise the kid at the same time. For instance, you can find a free essay on abortion online and see that many young parents combine parenting and education. Free essays about abortion, as well as essays about bullying, might help you understand that it is possible to study and be a good parent all at once and avoid implications with your peers. Abortion, on the other hand, might cause severe mental implications.

The other serious problem here is social pressure. The family or partner pressure might play a key role in swaying a woman towards abortion. It is especially relevant for nonmarital pregnancy. Reading an essay about bullying, we can conclude that the opinion of society can motivate a person to ill-considered decisions. Unfortunately, bullying is very common today among all segments of society. If a woman is not married, it is quite common for more conservative communities to shame her for that and even reject her entirely. That is the reason why many women conceal their pregnancy and abortion to avoid being stigmatized by the community and family. Of course, that is not an issue in more liberal societies, but the negative attitude towards abortion and nonmarital pregnancy might still linger around.

Social Stigma

The problem with abortion is that it is often stigmatized by the community, which might hinder the mental recovery from the procedure. Most women go through psychological and phyiscal implications after the procedure, and adding bullying and social stigma on top of that is not a good thing and probiotics for vaginal health also play a key role for having a healthy body. Such strong feelings as guilt and paranoia might be truly threatening to mental health, and if there are also people who judge instead of providing much-needed support, a woman can end up with severe crippling depression.

Of course, each woman reacts to abortion differently; some shrug it off like nothing, the others go through emotional turmoil. Both types, however, are not safe from the further psychological impact of the procedure. Regardless of your attitude towards the fetus, whether you see it as just the fetus or the unborn child who could have possibly head an entire life ahead, aborting pregnancy takes those possibilities away. Many women face a deep sense of guilt and self-torment for doing that, which leaves its mark upon their psyche.

Wrap Up

In the end, abortion is a deeply personal thing, and society has to give women the opportunity to make that choice. This choice, however, requires some preparation and mental integrity. Life is a cruel teacher, and the lesson we must remember is that every choice has its consequences. That is exactly why abortion is a step that requires much deliberation. It is not only a future life we are talking about here; it is also a woman’s physical and mental health that’s at stake. The impact of abortion on a woman’s mental health is an often-overlooked issue, but it surely deserves much more attention than it currently gets.

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How to Save Money When Launching and Marketing Your New Product

April 27, 2021

“The last 10% it takes to launch something takes as much energy as the first 90%,” says Rob Kalin, founder of Etsy.

Launching and marketing a new product is a herculean task.

With countless challenges awaiting us towards the final stage of a product launch, we have the added responsibility of keeping a track of our numbers. It’s easy to go overboard with exciting add-ons; next thing you know, you’re dealing with budget bloat.

We’re trying to build a product from scratch, so we want to identify resources with the lowest cost. It’s also important to take cognizance of any hidden costs that may sneak in while you’re too absorbed crafting your new product’s launch to perfection.

60% of products fail to make it to the market. So, as marketers, we must focus on maximizing our product’s ROI by keeping our spending lean while still amply boosting product awareness.

8 Ways to save money as you launch your next product

Product managers and marketers are collectively capable of saving businesses a truckload of money by being calm, intelligent, and capable.

Nevertheless, there are more ways for them to trim the costs associated with a new product’s launch and marketing. Let’s look at a few of them.

1. Invest time in Product Discovery

Startups are attuned to a fast-paced, growth-focused environment. It’s almost a sin to defer a task and spend time pondering over an idea without taking actionable steps towards materializing it.

As unproductive as this might seem, obsessing over growth metrics and zooming through user research can be a costly bet. This is effectively like gambling on what the users are looking for, and even the most experienced marketers can be way off in determining the user’s needs.

An extensive product discovery process is non-negotiable for businesses that want to minimize the costs associated with launching and marketing a product. Product discovery helps validate a product idea before a large sum is committed to designing, building, and marketing the product.

In addition to conferring agility to the business, product discovery also contributes by facilitating innovation and helping designers and developers obtain the customer feedback they crave.

2. Thoroughly study market data

Apart from keeping the team on their toes, product managers also have the responsibility of compiling business intelligence and relevant market data. This data is essential to establish the scope for a product and draw an initial marketing plan.

It may seem as though glossing over gauging market data saves cash, but it can lead to the product manager missing crucial details that can prove to be a costly mistake when the product is ready to launch.

Collecting market data and synthesizing the information into an actionable marketing plan, in the long run, saves valuable resources and ensures that no unwelcome surprises disrupt the product launch.

3. Be mindful of scope creep

Scope creep is a silent killer of terrific products. It’s understandable that when they have an excellent product on their hands, it’s hard for a team to contain their excitement. Constantly throwing new features into the mix can result in unmanageable growth.

As the spec sheet starts to accumulate features, the production costs start to balloon. It’s only when the team revisits the budget file collecting dust in a corner shelf, that they realize they’ll need to tweak and refine the features to control costs.

The timeline is thrown out of whack; the product needs to be launched soon, and the team still has cost overruns to fix. See how this can be frightening?

It’s essential to deal with scope creep right out of the gate. This saves the team and the business money, time, and reputation.

4. A well-thought product plan

The enthusiasm of startups rallying into the development phase is admirable. The product’s success, though, depends on more than just their enthusiasm.

The product development process comes with its own set of snags and bottlenecks. The presence of an experienced product manager is essential to keep things on track when the process hits a speed bump.

A product plan is a comprehensive document that discusses the product’s vision, the development milestones, and the marketing strategy. The plan brings the benefits of enhanced efficiency and productivity by offering the team a high and low-level view in the development process of the product.

5. Consider a referral program

Customer acquisition understandably tops a new product’s marketing checklist. However, a referral program can be a powerful way to leverage the current network to grow the new product’s reach.

Marketers can solicit recommendations from their network in simple ways like loyalty programs and referral discounts. Another popular way is holding a giveaway or contest with your new product as the prize, where participants are made to share a Facebook post and the post with the maximum likes wins.

When the winner is finally announced, make it a grand affair on the business’s Facebook page and tag the winner—this will maximize the post’s reach.

A referral program is a win-win-win for the referrer, the referral, and the business. A referral program also makes a current customer feel more invested in the business because as a referrer, they’re recommending a product to someone who trusts them.

Referral programs are a relatively low-cost component in a marketer’s toolkit that grows the audience and underpins the business’s client acquisition efforts.

6. Create Recyclable Content

Content creation comes at a very real cost. The more content marketers use for the new product’s marketing pursuits, the more dents they will see on the budget.

To remedy this, marketers should focus on investing in content that is versatile, has a longer shelf life, and is reusable.

Think of product descriptions as an example. Product descriptions must be written such that they can be used across marketing assets including the e-commerce store, website, social media posts, and flyers.

If the budget includes writing an ad copy, expand on this copy to create infographics, a product video, or a blog post.

Repurposing content this way can save the marketing team plenty of hours and dollars, that can be spent on other tasks and marketing assets.

7. Make the most of free social media features

While paid ads are a go-to for many marketers, the power that social media offers to marketers for free should not be overlooked. Using these free features can trim your marketing spend and consequently increase your ROI.

If executed strategically, scheduled posts on social media can be an effective marketing tool for a new product—and it’s free.

Introduce your products for free on social media websites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or anywhere that the business has a large enough audience. On platforms like Instagram, hashtags are a potent way to reach a large audience—again, at no cost!

Facebook even has a page dedicated to free tools.

Although, it’s understandable that marketers might feel they’re not doing enough unless they run sponsored posts. So, go ahead and do it. However, make sure to strike the sweet spot.

Spend a few dollars for 10 or so days each month (could be more or less depending on the budget), and fill the gaps by posting organic content. This will bring the aggregate spend down and still grow the new product’s awareness amongst the target audience.

8. When you can, DIY

Paying an external agency is often an easier way to get things done. Sometimes, it’s even necessary and allows leveraging their expertise to achieve our marketing goals. Nevertheless, doing things in-house when possible is a great way to control marketing costs.

For example, if someone on the marketing team can create content for the new product, this might be a good time to offer them a promotion. Rewarding an employee still costs less than paying hundreds or thousands of dollars to an outside agency.

Naturally, this is not always an option. If none of the team members know how to design marketing collateral for the new product, paid outside help remains the only option.

However, there are always some tasks the marketing team can accomplish in-house, and this is a potential area with an opportunity to minimize the marketing costs associated with a product launch.

Conclusion

Cost control is easier said than done, especially when launching a new product—an endeavor that is abundantly daunting by itself. While minimizing costs, it’s essential to ensure that the product doesn’t underperform against competing products. Finding that sweet spot to maximize the ROI can be intimidating.

However, there are some ways to save money when launching and marketing a new product. We’ve discussed a few tips that will help product managers and marketers stay aligned with their budget goals while still amplifying the new product’s reach and awareness.

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Should New Parents Invest in Life Insurance?

April 27, 2021

With being a new parent comes new responsibilities and considerations to take in life. You are no longer thinking about just you or your partner’s life and future. You are now in charge of the upbringing, future, safety, and care of your children, whose lives are just about to begin.

Setting them up for a prosperous life includes planning and letting them know what to do when things get hard. Among many things, getting yourself life insurance can be one of the best decisions you can make for them.

It may seem like it’s just one more thing to think about, but it can save both you and your family a lot of worries if something happens to you.

Here are some important points you should think about when considering life insurance.

When is the Right Time?

No time is better than the present when it comes to life insurance. Whether your family is just starting to grow or you are still in the planning stage on having kids, try to get a maternity health insurance policy as soon as possible. As you age, the price of the life insurance you are eligible for will also go up. So better to lock in on a rate now and get lower rates.

There are advantages in getting life insurance before having kids, like getting better rates and lesser hassle in the future. When you finally have children, all you have to do is update the policy that covers you, and you’re good to go. There is also nothing wrong with getting life insurance after having children too.

Insurance policies can cover a certain number of beneficiaries and be updated depending on the terms and conditions. Providers will only require you to submit a couple of documents to update your policy. However, when you plan to have more children, and the coverage amount may seem insufficient for them, you can opt to adjust your policy’s coverage amount as your provider will allow.

What is the Right Policy?

There are various types of policies offered by a range of insurance providers out there. Generally, insurance policies are either permanent/whole life or term life.

A permanent life insurance policy covers you your whole life and will benefit heirs or family whenever you pass. Meanwhile, term policies will only give your family death benefits when you pass away during a certain specified period. Term life insurances are often limited from 10 to 30 years of coverage. Beyond that, your beneficiaries will not be eligible to receive any amount once you die.

While it can be complex and more expensive, permanent life insurance is highly ideal if you plan to grow a family in the future. If you already have children or want to be insured until the kids graduate college, term life insurance will be a more affordable option.

Sources for Life Insurance

You can sometimes get insurance coverage from your employer, but you also have the option to get it on your own. It’s best to choose a policy that accurately fits your needs, lifestyle, and future plans.

There are plenty of life insurance providers, but the ones you can trust are those with established credibility. The best life insurance providers have often been around for a long time. Insurance agencies that have maintained their business for long periods of time are more trustworthy with your money. Reach out to them and ask for a quote or learn about your options.

Most of the known life insurance providers can offer a wide range of permanent insurance options. If you are looking for a more hassle-free term insurance provider, you can try providers like Bestow. It has been vetted and considered one of the most convenient term insurance providers. Read Bestow life insurance policy reviews online to learn more.

Some companies offer life insurance policies for employees, but this can be risky for someone growing a family. Relying solely on a company’s offered life insurance is not advisable because if you were to resign or be terminated, you would instantly lose the coverage.

How Much Will It Cost?

The average cost of life insurance in 2021 ranges from $40 to $55 per month. This varies based on the type of insurance you choose, as well as other significant variables. Along with health conditions, a person’s sex is one important matter in determining the cost of an insurance policy you have to pay. A 35-year old male will require a bit higher premiums compared to a 35-year old female.

When you are just starting, it is best to manage your finances and set a budget for the life insurance you want. Discuss it with your financial advisor to find a policy that will cover your needs without compromising your financial goals and budget.

Should You Insure Your Kids?

You might be tempted to purchase insurance for your children, but this is usually not a smart move for a parent. It can be a waste of money as it offers low rates on return while requiring a long-term commitment. Coverages for children’s life insurance are also low, and, in general, it does not provide adequate coverage in the event of losing a child to make up for the money lost in paying the policy.

Next Steps

As your family grows, it’s essential to consider their future needs. There are cheap and easy ways to improve your life insurance, like adding benefits for other situations such as illnesses and accidental deaths. Some policies and providers will let you invest a portion of your payment.

There are many details to be aware of when getting an insurance policy, such as required medical exams to pay for and pass and assets that can either help or hinder your policy coverage, including mortgage, debt, savings, and sources of income.

Invest for Your Kids

It is exciting to build a family and watch your children grow, but it can get pretty scary, too. The reality is that in a snap of a second, anything can happen. As parents, prepare your children and your whole family for anything in the event of the unthinkable. Start planning and get yourself insurance that you can avail, not just for you but also for them.

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